U.S. patent application number 14/841061 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-22 for ice making duct for refrigerator and ice making method using the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Min Bon KOO.
Application Number | 20160370094 14/841061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54199106 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160370094 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KOO; Min Bon |
December 22, 2016 |
ICE MAKING DUCT FOR REFRIGERATOR AND ICE MAKING METHOD USING THE
SAME
Abstract
An ice making duct for a refrigerator unit. The ice making duct
includes a cooling duct configured to allow cooling air to be
movable in a longitudinal direction therein. Both ends of the
cooling duct are connected to an ice making chamber such that the
cooling air circulates through the ice making chamber. The ice
making duct includes an evaporation coil configured to be wound
around the cooling duct, wherein the evaporation coil cools air in
the cooling duct to generate cooling air through a process of heat
exchange with a refrigerant. The ice making duct includes a heater
configured to heat frost generated in the cooling duct forming
defrosted water.
Inventors: |
KOO; Min Bon; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
54199106 |
Appl. No.: |
14/841061 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 39/02 20130101;
F25C 2400/10 20130101; F25D 17/067 20130101; F25D 23/061 20130101;
F25D 21/08 20130101; F25D 2317/067 20130101; F25D 17/08 20130101;
F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 2317/061 20130101; F25C 5/22 20180101;
F25D 2400/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/06 20060101
F25D017/06; F25D 21/08 20060101 F25D021/08; F25C 5/00 20060101
F25C005/00; F25D 17/08 20060101 F25D017/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2015 |
KR |
10-2015-0085277 |
Claims
1. An ice making duct for a refrigerator, comprising: a cooling
duct configured to allow cooling air to be movable in a
longitudinal direction therein, and to have both ends connected to
an ice making chamber such that the cooling air circulates through
the ice making chamber; and an evaporation coil configured to be
wound around the cooling duct and configured to cool air in the
cooling duct to generate cooling air through a process of heat
exchange with a refrigerant.
2. The ice making duct of claim 1, further comprising: a heater
configured to heat frost generated in the cooling duct forming
defrosted water.
3. The ice making duct of claim 2, wherein the heater comprises a
heat transfer tape configured to provide a heat source to the
cooling duct, wherein the heat transfer tape is wrapped around the
cooling duct.
4. The ice making duet of claim 1, wherein the cooling duct
comprises: a cooling channel configured to extend in a longitudinal
direction within the cooling duct such that the cooling air is
movable; a first duct hole provided at one end of the cooling
channel to supply the cooling air to the ice making chamber; and a
second duct hole provided at the other end of the cooling channel
to receive the cooling air from the ice making chamber.
5. The ice making duct of claim 4, wherein the first duct hole is
connected to an upper portion of the ice making chamber and the
second duct hole is connected to a lower portion of the ice making
chamber.
6. The ice making duct of claim 1, wherein the cooling duct is
configured to extend and be bent in a vertical direction of a main
body of the refrigerator such that the cooling duct is sloped in a
forward direction of the main body, wherein the cooling duct is
within a body of a refrigerating chamber.
7. The ice making duct of claim 1, wherein the cooling duct is
installed in a main body of the refrigerator and the ice making
chamber is installed in a refrigerating chamber door of the
refrigerator, and wherein a first end and a second end of the
cooling duct are selectively connected to the ice making chamber
when the refrigerating chamber door is closed.
8. The ice making duct of claim 1, wherein the evaporation coil is
configured to serve as an evaporator of a refrigerating cycle and
cool the cooling duct through conduction.
9. An ice making method using an ice making duct of a refrigerator,
comprising: supplying air to a cooling duct with an evaporation
coil wound therearound; supplying a refrigerant to the evaporation
coil; cooling the air in the cooling duct to generate cooling air
through a heat exchange process between the air and the
refrigerant; supplying the cooling air to an ice making chamber for
making ice; discharging the cooling air within the ice making
chamber into the cooling duct; and recooling the discharged cooling
air the cooling duct.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: removing frost
generated in the cooling duct through a heater provided in the
cooling duct; and discharging defrosted water to the outside.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the removing frost generated in
the cooling duct comprises: operating the heater for a
predetermined time interval to remove the frost.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the removing frost generated in
the cooling duct comprises: sensing a temperature of the cooling
duct; and operating the heater when the sensed temperature falls
below a predetermined temperature.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the cooling the air in the
cooling duct to generate cooling air comprises: moving the cooling
air along a cooling channel of the cooling duct for a predetermined
period of time to cool the cooling air to a temperature lower than
a predetermined temperature.
14. A refrigerator, comprising: a freezing chamber located within a
main body of the refrigerator; a refrigerating chamber located
within the main body of the refrigerator; at least one
refrigerating chamber door configured to isolate the refrigerating
chamber from a surrounding environment and to provide access to the
refrigerating chamber; an ice making chamber installed inside a
first refrigerating chamber door; and an ice making duct configured
within a body of the refrigerating chamber, wherein the ice making
duct comprises: a cooling duct configured to allow cooling air to
be movable in a longitudinal direction therein, and to have both
ends connected to the ice making chamber such that the cooling air
circulates through the ice making chamber; and an evaporation coil
configured to be,wound around the cooling duct and configured to
cool air in the cooling duct to generate cooling air through a
process of heat exchange with a refrigerant.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the ice making duct
further comprises: a heater configured to heat frost generated in
the cooling duct forming defrosted water.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the heater comprises a
heat transfer tape configured to provide a heat source to the
cooling duct, wherein the heat transfer tape is wrapped around the
cooling duct.
17. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the cooling duct
comprises: a cooling channel configured to extend in a longitudinal
direction within the cooling duct such that the cooling air is
movable; a first duct hole provided at one end of the cooling
channel to supply the cooling air to the ice making chamber; and a
second duct hole provided at the other end of the cooling channel
to receive the cooling air from the ice making chamber.
18. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the cooling duct is
configured to extend and be bent in a vertical direction of the
main body such that the cooling duct is sloped in a forward
direction of the main body of the refrigerator within a body of a
refrigerating chamber.
19. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the cooling duct is
installed in the main body of the refrigerator, and wherein a first
end and a second end of the cooling duct are selectively connected
to the ice making chamber when the first refrigerating chamber door
is closed.
20. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the freezing chamber is
below the refrigerating chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and the benefit
of the Republic of Korea Patent Application Serial Number
10-2015-0085277 entitled ICE MAKING DUCT FOR REFRIGERATOR AND ICE
MAKING METHOD USING THE SAME, having a filing date of Jun. 16,
2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an ice making duct for a
refrigerator and an ice making method using the same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A refrigerator unit is a device intended to store food items
at low temperatures. The refrigerator unit may be configured to
keep food at a temperature necessary to reduce the reproduction
rate of bacteria in the food. Perishable food may be optimally
refrigerated between 37.degree. F. to 41.degree. F. to allow for
food to be stored for a longer period of time than without
refrigeration. A refrigerator unit may also freeze food items in a
separate compartment at a temperature that is below approximately
0.degree. F. for an indefinite period of time without spoilage.
[0004] The inside of a refrigerator unit is cooled by supplying
cooling air of a desired temperature that is generated through a
heat exchanging operation of a refrigerant based on a refrigerating
cycle. The cycle includes a process of
compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation. The cooling air
supplied to the inside of the refrigerator unit is evenly
transferred by a convection current to store food items within the
refrigerator at a desired temperature.
[0005] In general, a refrigerator body of the refrigerator unit has
a rectangular shape with an open front side providing access to a
refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. Further, hinged doors
may be fitted to the front side of the refrigerator body in order
to selectively open and/or close openings to the refrigerating
chamber and the freezing chamber. In addition, a plurality of
drawers, shelves, receiving boxes, and the like may be provided in
the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber within the
refrigerator unit to keep various food items in an optimal
state.
[0006] Conventionally, refrigerators were configured as a top mount
type in which a freezing chamber is positioned above a
refrigerating chamber. Recently, bottom freeze type refrigerators
position the freezing chamber below the refrigerating chamber to
enhance user convenience. In the bottom freeze type refrigerator,
the more frequently used refrigerating chamber is positioned so
that a user may easily access the chamber without bending over at
the waist, as previously required by the top mount type
refrigerator.
[0007] However, a bottom freeze type refrigerator may lose its
design benefits when a user wants to access the lower freezing
chamber on a more frequent basis. For example, prepared ice that is
stored in the freezing chamber may be a popular item accessed
frequently by a particular user. In a bottom freeze type
refrigerator, since the freezing chamber is positioned below the
refrigerating chamber, the user would have to bend over at the
waist in order to open the freezing chamber door to access the ice.
To a frequent ice user, uncomfortably accessing the freezing
chamber numerous times in may outweigh the benefits of providing
ease of access to the refrigerating chamber.
[0008] In order to solve such a problem, bottom freeze type
refrigerators may include a dispenser configured for dispensing ice
that is provided in a refrigerating chamber door. In this case, the
ice dispenser is also positioned in the upper portion of the
refrigerator, and more specifically is located above the freezing
chamber. In this case, an ice making device for generating ice may
be provided in the refrigerating chamber door or in the interior of
the refrigerating chamber.
[0009] For example, in the bottom freeze type refrigerator in which
the ice making device is installed in the refrigerating chamber
door, air (cooling air) cooled by an evaporator is discharged to
the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. More
specifically, a portion of the cooling air discharged to the
freezing chamber side flows to the ice making device along a
cooling air supply duct embedded in a sidewall of a main body of
the refrigerator. The cooling air subsequently freezes water while
flowing within the ice snaking device. Thereafter, the cooling air
within the ice making device is discharged to the refrigerating
amber through a cooling air reducing duct embedded in the sidewall
of the main body of the refrigerator. This discharged cooling air
is subsequently used to lower an internal temperature of the
refrigerating chamber.
[0010] However, since the discharged cooling air of the freezing
chamber is used first in the ice making device to make ice, as the
cooling air moves through the cooling air supply duct and the
cooling air reducing duct to reach the refrigerating chamber for
lowering its temperature, the supply efficiency of the discharged
cooling air may be degraded.
[0011] In addition, the ice making device may be inefficient when
located in the often accessed refrigerating chamber. That is, the
temperature of the cooling air of the freezing chamber side used to
freeze ice is undesirably raised every time the refrigerating
chamber door is opened. In turn, the discharged cooling air used to
lower the temperature of the refrigerating chamber will also be
undesirably raised. As such, more cooling cycles are required to
make ice in the ice making device located in the refrigerating
chamber door when compared to an ice making device located in the
freezing chamber, especially when the refrigerating chamber is
frequently accessed. Furthermore, because the temperature of
discharged cooling air may be undesirably raised by frequent access
to the refrigerating chamber, more cooling cycles may also be
required to lower temperature of the refrigerating chamber. All of
the aforementioned results in increased power consumption of the
refrigerator unit.
[0012] What is needed is a more efficient way to make ice in a
bottom freeze type refrigerator.
SUMMARY
[0013] In view of the above, therefore, embodiments of the present
invention provide an ice making duct for a refrigerator in which
cooling air cooled in a cooling air duct can be directly used to
generate ice.
[0014] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
an ice making duct for a refrigerator unit is disclosed. The ice
making duct includes a cooling duct configured to allow cooling air
to be movable in a longitudinal direction therein. Both ends of the
cooling duct are connected to an ice making chamber such that the
cooling air circulates through the ice making chamber. The ice
making duct includes an evaporation coil configured to be wound
around the cooling duct, wherein the evaporation coil cools air in
the cooling duct to generate cooling air through a process of heat
exchange with a refrigerant. The ice making duct includes a heater
configured to heat frost generated in the cooling duct forming
defrosted water.
[0015] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, an ice making method using an ice making duct of a
refrigerator is described. The method includes supplying air to a
cooling duct, wherein the cooling duct is configured to have an
evaporation coil wound therearound. The method includes supplying a
refrigerant to the evaporation coil. The method includes cooling
the air in the cooling duct to generate cooling air through a heat
exchange process between the air and the refrigerant. The method
includes supplying the cooling air to an ice making chamber for
making ice. The method includes discharging the cooling air within
the ice making chamber into the cooling duct. The method includes
recooling the discharged cooling air in the cooling duct.
[0016] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
a refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a freezing
chamber located within main body of the refrigerator. The
refrigerator includes a refrigerating chamber located within the
main body of the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes at least
one refrigerating chamber door configured to isolate the
refrigerating chamber from a surrounding environ rent and to
provide access to the refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator
includes an ice making chamber installed inside a first
refrigerating chamber door. The refrigerator includes an ice making
duct configured within a body of the refrigerating chamber. The ice
making duct includes a cooling duct configured to allow cooling air
to be movable in a longitudinal direction therein, and to have both
ends connected to the ice making chamber such that the cooling air
circulates through the ice making chamber. The ice making duct
includes an evaporation coil configured to be wound around the
cooling duct and configured to cool air in the cooling duct to
generate cooling air through a process of heat exchange with a
refrigerant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
form a part of this specification and in which like numerals depict
like elements, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure
and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles
of the disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an ice
making duct of a refrigerator unit, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the
ice making duct of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a refrigerating cycle
of the ice making duct of a refrigerator unit, in accordance with
one embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator
unit, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state of connection between
an ice making chamber and a cooling duct in a refrigerator unit, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an internal configuration of
an ice making chamber of a refrigerator unit, in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for making
ice using an ice making duct of a refrigerator unit, in accordance
with one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to the various
embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While described in
conjunction with these embodiments, it will be understood that they
are not intended to limit the disclosure to these embodiments. On
the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover alternatives,
modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the
spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended
claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the
present disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
disclosure. However, it will be understood that the present
disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In
other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and
circuits have not been described in detail so as not to
unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an ice
making duct of a refrigerator unit, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional
view taken along line A-A of the ice making duct of FIG. 1, in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a block
diagram illustrating a refrigerating cycle of a refrigerator unit
utilizing the ice making duet of FIG. 1, in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view
illustrating a refrigerator unit utilizing the ice making duct of
FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, an ice making duct 200 of a
refrigerator unit) includes a cooling duet 210, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator unit 1 may
generate ice using cooling air that is cooled in the cooling duct
210.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the refrigerator unit 1 may include a
main body 10 that may include one or more inner chambers. A barrier
20 separates the interior cavity of the main body 10 into a
refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. One or more doors may
be configured to selectively isolate the interiors of the chambers
from the surrounding environment. For example, a refrigerating
chamber door 30 is configured for selectively closing a from
opening of the refrigerating chamber through contact on edges of a
front surface of the main body 10. A freezing chamber door 40 is
configured for closing a front opening of the freezing chamber. The
refrigerator unit 1 in accordance with this embodiment is a bottom
freeze type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is
positioned in a lower portion thereof. Although some embodiments of
the present invention are described in view of bottom type freeze
type refrigerators, other embodiments of the present invention are
not limited thereto, and may be applied to various types of
refrigerators.
[0029] The refrigerator unit 1 includes an ice making duct 200
configured for moving air. The ice making duct 200 may include a
cooling duct 210 in which cooling air is movable in a longitudinal
direction therein, an evaporation coil 220 for cooling the cooling
duct 210 through conduction, and a heater 230 for heating the
cooling duct 210.
[0030] More specifically, the cooling duct 210 may cooling channel
211, a first duct hole 212, and a second duct hole 213,
[0031] The cooling channel 211 is a passage through which cooling
air moves, and may extend in a longitudinal direction within the
cooling duct 210. In particular, the cooling channel 211 has a
length sufficient for generating cooling air. Air moving in the
cooling channel 211 for a predetermined period of time may be
cooled to generate cooling air having a temperature (e.g., 14
degrees Fahrenheit or lower below zero) sufficient for ice
making.
[0032] Further, the first duct hole 212 may be provided at one end
of the cooling channel 211 to supply the cooling air to the ice
making chamber 110. The second duct hole 213 may be provided at the
other end of the cooling channel 211 to receive the cooling air
from the ice making chamber 110. For example, the first duct hole
212 supplying cooling air may be connected to an upper portion of
the ice making chamber 110, and the second duct hole 213
discharging cooling air may be connected to a lower portion of the
ice making chamber 110. The cooling air within the cooling duct 210
may move from a lower end of the cooling duct 210 associated with
the second duct hole 213 to an upper end thereof that is associated
with the first duct hole 212.
[0033] The cooling duct 210 may extend to be bent in a vertical
direction of the main body 10 (e.g., in a sidewall) such that the
cooling duct 210 of ice making duct 200 is sloped in a forward
direction of the main body 10 within the refrigerator unit 1. For
example, the cooling duct 210 may be bent to have a "C" shape or a
"C" shape in a forward direction of the main body 10.
[0034] In this manner, since the cooling duct 210 is bent to have a
"C" shape or a "C" shape, when defrosted water is generated within
the cooling duct 210, the defrosted water may move to the lowermost
portion of the cooling duct 210 and may be subsequently discharged
to the outside through a separate drain device (not shown).
[0035] The cooling duct 210 is installed in the main body 10 of the
refrigerator 1, and the ice making chamber 110 is provided within
the refrigerating chamber door 30 of the refrigerator unit 1. Here,
the first duct hole 212 and the second duct hole 213 of the cooling
duct 210 may be selectively connected to an inlet 310 and an outlet
320 of the ice making chamber 110, respectively, when the
refrigerating chamber door 30 is in a closed position.
[0036] That is, when the refrigerating chamber door 30 is closed
and resting against the main body 10, cooling air within the
cooling duct 210 may be introduced to the inlet 310 of the ice
making chamber 110 through the first duct hole 212. The cooling air
introduced to the ice making chamber 110 may circulate within the
ice making chamber 110 to freeze water within the ice making
chamber 110 thereby making ice. Thereafter, the cooling air within
the ice making chamber 110 may be discharged to the second duct
hole 213 of the cooling duct 210 through the outlet 320. The
cooling air discharged from the ice making chamber 110 may be
retooled as it travels through the cooling duct 210, and then
introduced again to the ice making chamber 110 through the inlet
310.
[0037] The evaporation coil 220 may cool air as it travels along
the length of the cooling duet 210 to generate cooling air through
a heat exchange process using a refrigerant. To this end, the
evaporation coil 220 is configured to be wound around the cooling
duct 210. As such, when the refrigerant circulates through the
evaporation coil 220, depending on the refrigerating cycle, the
evaporation coil 220 may cool the cooling duct 210 through
conduction.
[0038] The evaporation coil 220 may serve as an evaporator of the
refrigerating cycle. For example, the evaporation coil 220 may
implement the refrigerating cycle including a process of
compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation together with a
compressor 11, a condenser 12, and an expansion valve 13.
[0039] In some embodiments, the compressor 11, the condenser 12,
the expansion valve 13, and the evaporation coil 220 are configured
to implement a refrigerating cycle for the purpose of supplying
cooling air to the ice making chamber 110. In other embodiments,
the configuration of the compressor 11, the condenser 12, the
expansion valve 13, and the evaporation coil 220 may also provide
cooling air to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber
of the refrigerator writ 1, as well as to the ice making chamber
110. In addition, the configuration of the compressor 11, the
condenser 12, and the expansion valve 13 may also share a
refrigerant with an evaporator (not shown) for providing cooling
air to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.
[0040] The heater 230 may heat frost generated in the cooling duct
210 which forms defrosted water that may be discharged from the
cooling duct 210 through a separate drain device (not shown). To
this end, the heater 230 may be a heat transfer tape (e.g.,
aluminum heat transfer tape) that is adhered to the ice making duct
200 or the cooling duct 210 to provide a heat source to the cooling
duct 210.
[0041] Although heater 230 of some embodiments of the present
invention is described with respect to the heat transfer tape
adhered to the surface of the ice making duct 200 or the cooling
duct 210, it is not limited thereto. For example, in other
embodiments, the heater 230 may also be formed of a heating coil
(not shown) that is allowed to be wound around the ice making duct
200 or the cooling duct 210.
[0042] The heater 230 is operated, as controlled by a separate
timer (not shown), at a predetermined time interval to remove the
frost, in one embodiment in addition, in another embodiment the
heater 230 is operated when a temperature of the cooling duct 210,
sensed by a separate temperature sensor (not shown), falls below a
predetermined temperature, thereby removing the frost.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state of
connection between the ice making chamber 110 and the cooling duct
210 in the refrigerator unit 1, in accordance with one embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view
illustrating an internal configuration of the ice making chamber of
the refrigerator unit 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ice making chamber 110
may be provided in the refrigerating chamber door 30 of the
refrigerator unit 1. Although embodiments of the present invention
are described having an ice making chamber 110 located in an upper
portion of the refrigerating chamber door 30, this is merely
illustrative. That is, in other embodiments, the ice making chamber
110 may be installed in other locations inside and outside of the
refrigerating chamber door 30.
[0045] The ice making chamber 110 may provide an ice making space
111 in which ice is generated. In addition, an ice maker 120, an
ice bank 130 for storing ice, and a circulation fan 330 may be
provided within the ice making chamber 110.
[0046] The ice maker 120 may freeze water into ice rising cooling
air introduced to the ice making space 111 and dispense the formed
ice to the ice bank 130. The ice bank 130 may be positioned below
the ice maker 120 from which ice is dispensed. The ice bank 130 may
store the dispensed ice and provide the ice to a user through a
dispenser unit (not shown). The circulation fan 330 may move the
cooling air from the inlet 310 through the ice making chamber 110,
and to the outlet 320.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for making
ice using an ice making duct of a refrigerator unit, in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. For example, the
method outlined in FIG. 7 may be implemented by the ice making duct
200 of refrigerator unit 1 of FIGS. 1-6.
[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the ice making method of the
refrigerator unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention may include the steps of supplying air to a cooling duct
with an evaporation coil wound therearound (step S100), supplying a
refrigerant to the evaporation coil (step S200), cooling the air in
the cooling duct to generate cooling air through a heat exchange
between the air and the refrigerant (step S300), supplying the
cooling air to an ice making chamber for generating ice (step
S400), discharging the cooling air within the ice making chamber to
the cooling duct (step S500), recooling the discharged cooling air
in the cooling duct (step S600), removing frost generated in the
cooling duct through a heater provided in the cooling duct (step
S700), and discharging defrosted water to the outside (step
S800).
[0049] More particularly, in step S100 wherein air is supplied to
the cooling duct having evaporation coil wound therearound, air may
be supplied to the cooling duct in order to cool the air as it
travels through the cooling duct. The air eventually supplied to
the interior of the cooling duct may move from a lower end to an
upper end of the cooling duct, for example, but may move in the
opposite direction in other examples.
[0050] In step S200, a refrigerant as implemented within a
refrigerating cycle may be supplied to the evaporation coil. In
that case, the evaporation coil may implement a refrigerating
cycle, including a process of
compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation, together with a
compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve.
[0051] In step S300 of generating cooling air through a heat
exchange process between the air and the refrigerant, air is moved
within the cooling duet around which an evaporation coil is wound.
As the air travels along the length of the cooling duct, the air is
cooled to generate cooling air. Here, while air within the cooling
duct moves along a cooling channel, heat from the air may be
exchanged with or transferred to the refrigerant via the
evaporation coil for a predetermined period of time. As such, the
air discharged from the cooling duct and into the ice making
chamber may be cooled to cooling air having a temperature (e.g., 14
degrees or lower below zero) sufficient for ice making.
[0052] In step S400 of supplying cooling air to the ice making
chamber to generate ice, the cooling air that is cooled in the
cooling duct may be supplied to an ice making space of the ice
making chamber through an inlet of the ice making chamber. The
cooling air introduced to the ice making space may circulate in the
ice making space through an operation of a circulation fan, thereby
freezing water within the ice making space into ice.
[0053] In step S500 of discharging cooling air from the ice making
chamber to the cooling duct, the cooling air within the ice making
space may be discharged to the cooling duct through an outlet of
the ice making chamber.
[0054] In step S600 of recooling the discharged cooling air in the
cooling duct, the discharged cooling air introduced to the cooling
duct is moved again along the cooling channel of the cooling duct.
The discharged cooling air, or rather air, is moved along the
length of the cooling channel for a predetermined period of time so
as to be recooled to again generate cooling air having a
temperature that is lower than a temperature sufficient for ice
making.
[0055] In step S700 of removing frost generated in the cooling duct
through a heater provided in the cooling duct, the heater is
operated by using a timer at a predetermined time interval to
remove the frost, in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the
heater is operated when a temperature of the cooling duct, as
sensed by a temperature sensor, is lower than a predetermined
temperature, thereby removing the frost.
[0056] In step S800 of discharging defrosted water to the outside,
defrosted water that is generated when heating frost in the cooling
duct ay be discharged to the outside of the refrigerator unit. For
example, the defrosted water generated in the cooling duct through
heating may be discharged to a defrosting tray (not shown) provided
in a machine room of the refrigerator unit through a drain device
(not shown) connected to the lowermost portion of the cooling
duct.
[0057] In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention,
since ice is generated using air from the ice making chamber that
is directly cooled in a cooling duct, the cooling efficiency of
making ice in a refrigerator unit can be enhanced, and the supply
efficiency of cooling air can be increased.
[0058] In addition, in accordance with the embodiments of the
present invention, cooling air circulates between the cooling duct
and an ice making space of the refrigerator door for a shorter
period of time due to the proximity of the cooling duct to the ice
making space, especially when compared to the related art in which
cooling air that is cooled in a lower freezing chamber of the
refrigerator unit is moved to the ice making space located in a
door of an upper refrigerating chamber. As such, the loss of
cooling energy in the cooling air can be effectively reduced, and
power consumption depending on the operation of the refrigerator
can also be reduced since the number of cooling cycles needed to
make ice is reduced. As a result, embodiments of the present
invention provide a refrigerator unit that is more efficient when
making ice.
[0059] Thus, according to embodiments of the present invention,
method and systems for making ice using an ice making duct are
disclosed.
[0060] The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has
been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the
illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or
to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in view of the above
teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention. Further, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be
made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined
in the following claims.
[0061] The process parameters and sequence of steps described
and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can
be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated
and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular
order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the
order illustrated or discussed. The various example methods
described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of
the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional
steps in addition to those disclosed.
[0062] Embodiments according to the invention are thus described.
While the present disclosure has been described in particular
embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention should not
be construed as limited by such embodiments.
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